Celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May

This May, the City of Lake Oswego is proud to celebrate the history, achievements and contributions of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander people. The AANHPI umbrella term includes cultures from the entire Asian continent including East, Southeast and South Asia and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia.

Visit the Federal Asian Pacific American Heritage Month to learn more about the origins and events for this commemorative history month.

A Legacy of Leadership and Resilience

This year’s Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month is “Power in Unity: Strengthening Communities Together”. The 2026 honors all the work of AANHPI leaders who have established a foundation for future generations to thrive and adapt to change and adversity. For more information on this year’s theme please visit FAPAC - AAPI Resources

Celebrations and Activities

2026 Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month Celebration
Sunday, May 17, 2026 from 12-3 p.m.
Join Lake Oswego Parks & Recreation as we celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander heritage month. This cultural event will honor the rich cultures, traditions and contributions of AANHPI communities.

Join the Lake Oswego Public Library and the Adult Community Center in the celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AAPI/AANHPI) cultures and heritage. We encourage you to check out some of the amazing things going on throughout the month of May:

Music and Movement in Mandarin Every Monday
American Mah Jongg
Curated AAPI book/movie lists on our adult and youth Pinterest boards.
Korean Storytime Every month on the 4th Sunday

Threading Together: AANHPI Traditional Attire Exhibit
May 1- June 21,2026 - Lan Su Chinese Garden

AANHPI Heritage Month - Celebrate Our Stories!
May 1- May 31,2026 - Lan Su Chinese Garden

AANHPI Heritage Celebration
May 1- May 31,2026

Rise Above Hate
May 2, 2026- Old Town Chinatown

Kodomo no Hi, Children's Day
May 3, 2026 - Portland Japanese Garden

I Am An American Live
May 16, 2026 - Patricia Reser Center for the Arts

PBS Documentaries

Every May PBS takes extra time to celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month by shining a light on AAPI experiences and filmmakers. Enjoy this selection of films, some premiering in May as well as some gems to revisit. These documentaries celebrate the light and love in our diverse AANHPI communities.

History

Throughout history, members of the Asian and Pacific Islander communities have contributed to Oregon’s economy and rich cultural history. To learn more about the contributions of Chinese, Japanese, Hmong, Indian and other Asian and Pacific Islander communities, visit Race, Ethnicity and Nationality page on The Oregon Encyclopedia and select “group”.